The School of Theatre and Dance and The School of Music have no shortage of dedicated students. With student participation in groups such as Gregory, Un Bit Butter, Math Club, and Physical Graffiti, there’s more than a few shows to attend throughout each semester. But who’s responsible for the behind-the-scenes work that ensures these shows run smoothly?
Big Blue Productions (BBP) is one of Millikin’s many student organizations and the crew responsible for the preparation and setup for many of Millikin’s performances.
“Big Blue Productions is the sound and lights crew for the School of Music, as well as any organization that chooses to hire us,” Zander Shaw, the president of BBP said.
Student organizations reach out to hire BBP for their events. From there, a lot of work goes into planning and setting up for each event.
“Normally, we try to plan everything a week in advance,” Shaw said. “Once we get to the space, we’ll have them set up based on what the head engineer decides they need, where speakers need to be, where lights need to be, the soundboard, everything like that. Once everything’s set up, make sure all the XLRs are run through, make sure everything’s wired up correctly so that the signal can flow to where it needs to go, and just do a basic line check.”
It’s not as simple as it may seem and with BBP running the show, they don’t receive nearly as much credit or attention that they deserve.
“We’re a group full of very capable people,” junior commercial music major Michael Tholl said. “Without Big Blue productions, I think the university would have a really hard time doing the stuff that they normally do, especially with the School of Music.”
Big Blue Productions is not only limited to SOTAD or School of Music students, but many students across different majors are a part of the group. It’s a great way to get hands-on experience. Whether you’re planning to go into the music industry, or simply want to make some extra money on the side, BBP is a great way to learn about the work and tech that brings a show to life.
So next time you’re at one of Millikin’s many shows, whether that’s a musical, comedy, dance, or even the occasional gig at LSB — take a look around and appreciate the work that these students put into perfecting these shows. From setup to takedown, every piece is crucial to the performance, and shows wouldn’t run nearly as smooth if not for this crew.
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